Spatial Information Systems

Objective:

Spatial Information Systems (SIS), the technology of acquiring, managing, analyzing, and displaying information in a spatial context, has become a critical component of decision making in a wide variety of enterprises. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, the Global Positioning System (GPS), and remotely sensed data from aircraft and satellites are all examples of this expanding technology in spatial data. Many businesses and government agencies are using innovative combinations of these technologies to manage everything from production facilities to ecosystems, and the demand for people with SIS training is growing rapidly.

Today not only earth scientists, but people in fields ranging from engineering to tax assessment to realty, among others, need to be familiar with these tools. The objective of the SIS certificate program is to train people to acquire, manage and analyze the increasing collection of spatial data now available for business, government and research purposes, while focusing on data and issues of interest in North-Central Texas and, specifically, in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex.

Recent significant increases in the volume and resolution of remote sensing data coupled with wider availability, coverage, and decreasing cost, has opened up new areas of applications of this exciting technology. This is especially true in urban settings where, hitherto, image resolution was insufficient for precise identification and location of features of interest. The recent upgrading of the GPS signal by the U.S. government has resulted in an order of magnitude increase in positional accuracy, such that inexpensive hand-held GPS receivers can now be used for locating objects within a few meters. The SIS program will emphasize the integration of these new technologies into a coherent framework of data acquisition and analysis that is not available elsewhere.

The Spatial Information Systems certification will provide students with a fundamental understanding of all types of spatial data. They will acquire the knowledge and expertise to use spatial information tools and to develop, build, visualize and analyze spatial data sets. The program will address applications in many fields, from urban utilities and cadastral mapping to engineering geology to natural and cultural resource management.

Admission and Registration:

Any graduate or undergraduate enrolled at UTA is eligible for the Certificate program. Only students classified as graduate students can enroll in the graduate courses. Students must demonstrate computer literacy to the satisfaction of the program advisor.

Certificate Awards:

The Spatial Information Systems certificate will be awarded to any student completing the five courses (15 credit hours) in the program with a composite GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Requirements for the SIS Certificate:

Five courses (15 credit hours) are required at either the graduate or undergraduate level. Courses may be transferred from other universities. (Graduate courses are numbered above 5000, and undergraduate courses are below 5000. Graduate students are given extra assignments):

Geol. 5320/4330 (Understanding GIS) introduces the concepts of Geographical Information Systems and provides students with hands-on experience using ArcView 8.x in the ArcGIS Desktop application.

Geol. 5321/4331 (Analysis of Spatial Data) uses the entire ArcGIS suite of tools, and covers spatial data management, analysis and visualization including topological data structures, vector- and surface-analysis tools, and spatial statistics including krieging and data quality evaluation.

Geol. 5322/4332 (Global Positioning Systems) includes the fundamentals of geographic coordinate systems, map projections, the GPS satellite constellation, signal characteristics and processing, data analysis, and the incorporation of this data into GIS software. The accuracy and precision of the various types of GPS receivers will be compared in a series of field exercises.

Geol. 5323/4333 (Remote Sensing Fundamentals) addresses image acquisition, processing and interpretation, with applications to such diverse fields as urban and environmental studies, natural resources exploration and management, agriculture, meteorology, and land use classification and monitoring. Satellite images with very high spatial and spectral resolution are now available to the public; these new data sources will be reviewed and analyzed. Image data availability over the Internet will be examined.

Geol. 5324/4334 (Geographic Data Analysis Project) is an independent study course. After completing 12 hours of course work, students will design and carry out an advisor-approved project using spatial data.

Facilities and Equipment:

The Spatial Information Systems Laboratory has recently been established in the Department of Geology. It has one high-end PC with exceptional graphics capability for image analysis and interpretation. It currently runs the ESRI, ERDAS, and Trimble software for RS/GPS/GIS projects. The lab has a variety of GPS receivers, some capable of sub-meter accuracy using differential corrections. SIS classes are taught in the GIS lab in the central Library (Room 510). The website URL for the SIS lab (under construction) is http://www2.uta.edu/geology/sis-lab

Faculty:

Dr. Larry A. Standlee (Ph.D. Rice University) is a geologist with over 25 years experience in the oil and gas industry and in University teaching and research. He has done structural interpretations worldwide using a variety of remote sensing data. He is currently Director of the Spatial Information Systems Laboratory in the Department of Geology and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Geology. He can be reached at standla@uta.edu

Dr. Chris Scotese (Ph.D. University of Chicago) is a Professor in the Department of Geology and director of the SIS Certificate Program. He has taught GIS for the past 8 years, and his research has involved global mapping of plate motions, paleoclimates, and their impact on the evolution of sedimentary basins. He has a particular interest in dinosaurs and their habitat. He can be reached at chris@scotese.com

Dr. Paul B. Medley (Ph.D. Louisiana State University) is a biologist with research interests in conservation GIS and spatial modeling applied to natural resource management, particularly biodiversity, wildlife conservation, and fisheries. He currently holds appointments as Assistant Dean of Science, Director of the Converging Biotechnology Center, and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Departments of Biology and Geology. He can be reached at medley@uta.edu